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Catholic Church can hide behind rules

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Rules, rules, rules. Laws, laws, laws. In terms of the Carla Hale tragedy, it seems that, for
many, the rules are all that matter.

Well, there are such things as bad rules — rules that need to change, or at least be seriously
questioned. So often rules are a hiding place, a refuge from critical thinking. When one obeys, one
need not think any longer and need not take responsibility any longer. One need not look too
closely at anyone or anything.

“I’m just following orders” was the fascist sanctuary of institutionalized violence. Rules and
laws (not cosmic fate) took the life of history’s most famous victim of capital punishment: Jesus.
Rules and traditions have protected the church, bishops and priests who perpetuated the abhorrent
pedophile crisis that calls into question every aspect of the Catholic curia and magisterium.

Rules act as a shield: People do not wish to question rules applied selectively because this
might reveal attitudes of their own that are less than Christian, for example, homophobia.

Before I am branded a “Catholic hater” (name-calling is another refuge of those who refuse to
exercise critical thinking), I am a Catholic convert. I love the Catholic Church for what it does
so well: Jesus’ mission in the world.

Yet, I weep for this same church; as an absolute monarchy, as they say, “absolute power corrupts
absolutely.”